Brief History of Freemasonry
Freemasonry is the world’s oldest networking organization. It operates as a fraternity for men with the primary purpose of fellowship and building men of character. St. Johns Lodge has existed for nearly 200 years to allow men to know others that they might not otherwise know. The Free and Accepted Masons, or just Masonic Lodge, is the world’s oldest fraternity and you will find its organizations, called Lodges, all across the World.
Requirements: Any man can be a Mason as long as he is of legal age and comes well recommended. Those with interest will be welcomed by a small committee who will talk with him about Masonry. The committee will then recommend the candidate to the Lodge upon the candidate’s signing of a membership petition.
Historic origins of modern Freemasonry can be traced to the stonemasons guilds that formed during the Middle Ages in Europe. Guilds were developed to train men in skills needed to construct magnificent cathedrals and castles. Over time, these guilds allowed some who were not actual stone masons to join their ranks, known as “admitted” or “accepted” masons. Men of thought were drawn to the idea of creating cathedrals of men – character, balance, and a spiritual belief in something beyond what we see on earth. By the 1700s the Grand Lodge, or association of four principle lodges of Freemasonry, was founded in England.
Freemasonry in the United States is slightly different than in other parts of the world. The United States does not have one national Grand Lodge, but rather each state has its own Grand Lodge that is separate from each other state. All of the lodges within a particular state are under the jurisdiction of that state's Grand Lodge.
Requirements: Any man can be a Mason as long as he is of legal age and comes well recommended. Those with interest will be welcomed by a small committee who will talk with him about Masonry. The committee will then recommend the candidate to the Lodge upon the candidate’s signing of a membership petition.
Historic origins of modern Freemasonry can be traced to the stonemasons guilds that formed during the Middle Ages in Europe. Guilds were developed to train men in skills needed to construct magnificent cathedrals and castles. Over time, these guilds allowed some who were not actual stone masons to join their ranks, known as “admitted” or “accepted” masons. Men of thought were drawn to the idea of creating cathedrals of men – character, balance, and a spiritual belief in something beyond what we see on earth. By the 1700s the Grand Lodge, or association of four principle lodges of Freemasonry, was founded in England.
Freemasonry in the United States is slightly different than in other parts of the world. The United States does not have one national Grand Lodge, but rather each state has its own Grand Lodge that is separate from each other state. All of the lodges within a particular state are under the jurisdiction of that state's Grand Lodge.
Brief History of St. Johns Lodge No.20
St. Johns Lodge No.20 received a Dispensation from the Grand Lodge of Indiana on March 29, 1822.
On October 8, 1822 St. Johns Lodge was chartered by the Grand Lodge of Indiana. The name honoring St. Johns the Baptist (a Patron Saint of Freemasonry). The first set of officers consisted of Hiram Smith W.M., William A. Washburn S.W., Luke Bonesteel J.W., Phillip Sweetser, and Ebenezer Ward.
As the above men were attempting to gain a foothold in the wilderness and help shape what we would come to know as Bartholomew County, the strain of this along with attempting to form a new Lodge was too much, therefore on October 4, 1826 the Worshipful Master of St. Johns Lodge No.20 attempted to return the Charter to the Grand Lodge of Indiana. The Grand Lodge refused to accept the Charter until certain matters were satisfactorily adjusted, therefore suspending the Charter. This was apparently never done, for on October 2, 1827 Grand Lodge of Indiana arrested the Charter.
The Grand Lodge of Indiana issued a dispensation to St. Johns Lodge on December 4, 1830 and on October 11, 1831, the Grand Lodge of Indiana reissued the original charter to St. Johns Lodge No.20, however the events of 1826 repeated themselves and again St. Johns Lodge No.20 lost its charter, with it being arrested by the Grand Lodge of Indiana on December 24, 1833. The second set of officers consisted of Hiram Wade W.M., Dr. Tiffian Davis S.W., Reuben Redman J.W., Samuel Downing, Gideon B. Hart, John C. Hubbard, William Harod and Philip Sweetser.
From 1834 to 1841 there was no Masonic Lodge in Bartholomew County. A final attempt was made in 1842, however the St. Johns name was given to a new Lodge in Delphi, Indiana. On May 24th, 1842, a dispensation was given to Columbus Lodge U.D. On May 22, 1843, the Lodge received, for the last time, a charter from the Grand Lodge of Indiana, with the name of St. Johns Lodge No.20 restored to the Lodge in Bartholomew County and Delphi Lodge became Mt. Olive Lodge No.48.
The Charter is still in possession of St. Johns Lodge No.20 today. Francis Lytle has been identified as the leader in the crusade to regain the charter and name of St. Johns Lodge No.20.
On October 8, 1822 St. Johns Lodge was chartered by the Grand Lodge of Indiana. The name honoring St. Johns the Baptist (a Patron Saint of Freemasonry). The first set of officers consisted of Hiram Smith W.M., William A. Washburn S.W., Luke Bonesteel J.W., Phillip Sweetser, and Ebenezer Ward.
As the above men were attempting to gain a foothold in the wilderness and help shape what we would come to know as Bartholomew County, the strain of this along with attempting to form a new Lodge was too much, therefore on October 4, 1826 the Worshipful Master of St. Johns Lodge No.20 attempted to return the Charter to the Grand Lodge of Indiana. The Grand Lodge refused to accept the Charter until certain matters were satisfactorily adjusted, therefore suspending the Charter. This was apparently never done, for on October 2, 1827 Grand Lodge of Indiana arrested the Charter.
The Grand Lodge of Indiana issued a dispensation to St. Johns Lodge on December 4, 1830 and on October 11, 1831, the Grand Lodge of Indiana reissued the original charter to St. Johns Lodge No.20, however the events of 1826 repeated themselves and again St. Johns Lodge No.20 lost its charter, with it being arrested by the Grand Lodge of Indiana on December 24, 1833. The second set of officers consisted of Hiram Wade W.M., Dr. Tiffian Davis S.W., Reuben Redman J.W., Samuel Downing, Gideon B. Hart, John C. Hubbard, William Harod and Philip Sweetser.
From 1834 to 1841 there was no Masonic Lodge in Bartholomew County. A final attempt was made in 1842, however the St. Johns name was given to a new Lodge in Delphi, Indiana. On May 24th, 1842, a dispensation was given to Columbus Lodge U.D. On May 22, 1843, the Lodge received, for the last time, a charter from the Grand Lodge of Indiana, with the name of St. Johns Lodge No.20 restored to the Lodge in Bartholomew County and Delphi Lodge became Mt. Olive Lodge No.48.
The Charter is still in possession of St. Johns Lodge No.20 today. Francis Lytle has been identified as the leader in the crusade to regain the charter and name of St. Johns Lodge No.20.